Salesforce.com said Monday that its new Oregon offices will be in Hillsboro, choosing the suburbs over Portland for a major operational hub.

The rapidly growing San Francisco company went looking for an expansion site last year and picked Oregon over Salt Lake City. Salesforce said this morning that it also considered Denver and Austin.

Portland is the nexus of Oregon's software economy, with a hive of busy startups clustered around the Pearl District and downtown. Still, Salesforce's decision to pick Hillsboro was no surprise.

Public agency correspondence reviewed by The Oregonian last summer indicated that Salesforce strongly preferred Washington County, though Portland made a pitch to bring the company to the city -- and former Mayor Sam Adams attended at least one of the company's recruiting events in the Pearl District.

Salesforce vice president Monika Fahlbusch said this morning that the company

chose a 100,000-square-foot site in Hillsboro -- in an office built 13 years ago for design software company Synopsys -- because it can be customized to meet Salesforce's needs, and because the building has enough space to accommodate growth

In other news around Washington County:

SUIT AGAINST COUNTY: A Washington County deputy's shooting of Leonard Salanitro in 2010 was unjustified even if it occurred exactly how the deputy described it, a police training expert testified Monday.

Salanitro, 51, of Orange, Calif., is suing the county and sheriff's deputies Patrick Altiere and James Wheaton on two federal claims -- excessive force and unreasonable seizure -- and two state claims -- battery and false imprisonment.

The county says Altiere fired a single round, striking Salanitro in the abdomen, after Salanitro attacked him.

Michael Lyman, a police practices expert, testified at the federal jury trial that Salanitro did not pose a threat of death or serious bodily injury when he was shot.

"That shooting was unreasonable, unjustified and excessive," he said.

COMPOST FACILITY: During more than a year of debate about a controversial composting facility near North Plains, odor has been the both the most central and least concrete issue for Washington County residents and commissioners.

And with good reason, according to engineer and odor expert Tom Card.

"(Smell) can be pretty subjective," said Card, whom the county will likely contract to study odors related to Nature's Needs. "You'd be surprised what is and isn't acceptable in different communities. People object to chocolate factories."

Through its proposed contract with Card the county will look to gain a scientific perspective on Nature's Needs odors that have spurred more than 1,500 resident complaints. As part of a Jan. 22 decision to allow the site to compost residential food scraps through 2015 but no longer accept commercial food scraps, the county also required the company in charge of the site, Recology, to fund an odor monitor through 2013.

Enter Card, who has evaluated problematic sites throughout the West Coast, from compost facilities to, yes, chocolate factories.

HILLBORO BALLPARK: The public art display at Hillsboro's new baseball ballpark could cost another $10,000, according to a Parks & Recreation Department staff report.

The Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Commission will vote on a final design for the public art piece by Devin Laurence Field at its meeting on Tuesday.

Construction costs for the $15.2 million ballpark at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex already included $50,000 set aside for a public art display, according to Community Resources Manager Mary Loftin.

The commission will see two options on Tuesday, including an "enhanced" option that would cost another $10,000, according to Loftin. The $10,000, if approved, would come out of the Cultural Arts budget, according to the staff report.

Public Arts Program Supervisor Valerie Otani previously described the project as "fast-tracked." First pitch for the Class A Hillsboro Hops is fewer than four months away.

Her name is Rookie, and only a few weeks in, she already is a hit around the station.

Once, she gets "sturdier," Schutz said, the nearly 10-week-old miniature schnauzer will make her community debut.

"She will be a real draw to break the ice and get kids to talk to you," Schutz said.

The chief purchased Rookie about three weeks ago to have a companion at her Forest Grove home. But she hopes the puppy will also serve as a small friend to the agency's officers and bring police some fun.

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: A half-hour before the biggest match of his young life, Hillsboro's John Morin casually strolled through the basement of Memorial Coliseum with a confident smile.

He was approached by teammate Andy Downer, who offered a fist-bump and a quick word of encouragement. Morin returned a genuine congratulations to Downer, who earlier placed fourth at state in the 132-pound bracket.

"He's really nice and really humble," Downer said. "He's isn't a cocky guy at all and is actually pretty laid-back. He's just a normal guy."

Morin then entered the spotlight and showed what separates himself from his peers. The Hillsboro senior smoothly recorded a 10-2 win over David Douglas' Quincy Clarkson to secure the 182-pound title at the OSAA Class 6A state wrestling meet Saturday night.

Morin celebrated by lifting Spartans assistant coach Bryan Cantrell in the air and pointing up at Section 55, filled with a boisterous cheering section that included Morin's parents and his six older siblings.